TY - JOUR T1 - Brain-computer interface (BCI) evaluation in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. JF - Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener Y1 - 2014 A1 - McCane, Lynn M A1 - Sellers, Eric W A1 - Dennis J. McFarland A1 - Mak, Joseph N A1 - Carmack, C Steve A1 - Zeitlin, Debra A1 - Jonathan Wolpaw A1 - Theresa M Vaughan KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis KW - Biofeedback, Psychology KW - brain-computer interfaces KW - Communication Disorders KW - Electroencephalography KW - Event-Related Potentials, P300 KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Online Systems KW - Photic Stimulation KW - Psychomotor Performance KW - Reaction Time AB - Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) might restore communication to people severely disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other disorders. We sought to: 1) define a protocol for determining whether a person with ALS can use a visual P300-based BCI; 2) determine what proportion of this population can use the BCI; and 3) identify factors affecting BCI performance. Twenty-five individuals with ALS completed an evaluation protocol using a standard 6 × 6 matrix and parameters selected by stepwise linear discrimination. With an 8-channel EEG montage, the subjects fell into two groups in BCI accuracy (chance accuracy 3%). Seventeen averaged 92 (± 3)% (range 71-100%), which is adequate for communication (G70 group). Eight averaged 12 (± 6)% (range 0-36%), inadequate for communication (L40 subject group). Performance did not correlate with disability: 11/17 (65%) of G70 subjects were severely disabled (i.e. ALSFRS-R < 5). All L40 subjects had visual impairments (e.g. nystagmus, diplopia, ptosis). P300 was larger and more anterior in G70 subjects. A 16-channel montage did not significantly improve accuracy. In conclusion, most people severely disabled by ALS could use a visual P300-based BCI for communication. In those who could not, visual impairment was the principal obstacle. For these individuals, auditory P300-based BCIs might be effective. VL - 15 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24555843 IS - 3-4 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A practical, intuitive brain-computer interface for communicating 'yes' or 'no' by listening. JF - J Neural Eng Y1 - 2014 A1 - Jeremy Jeremy Hill A1 - Ricci, Erin A1 - Haider, Sameah A1 - McCane, Lynn M A1 - Susan M Heckman A1 - Jonathan Wolpaw A1 - Theresa M Vaughan KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Algorithms KW - Auditory Perception KW - brain-computer interfaces KW - Communication Aids for Disabled KW - Electroencephalography KW - Equipment Design KW - Equipment Failure Analysis KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Man-Machine Systems KW - Middle Aged KW - Quadriplegia KW - Treatment Outcome KW - User-Computer Interface AB - OBJECTIVE: Previous work has shown that it is possible to build an EEG-based binary brain-computer interface system (BCI) driven purely by shifts of attention to auditory stimuli. However, previous studies used abrupt, abstract stimuli that are often perceived as harsh and unpleasant, and whose lack of inherent meaning may make the interface unintuitive and difficult for beginners. We aimed to establish whether we could transition to a system based on more natural, intuitive stimuli (spoken words 'yes' and 'no') without loss of performance, and whether the system could be used by people in the locked-in state. APPROACH: We performed a counterbalanced, interleaved within-subject comparison between an auditory streaming BCI that used beep stimuli, and one that used word stimuli. Fourteen healthy volunteers performed two sessions each, on separate days. We also collected preliminary data from two subjects with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who used the word-based system to answer a set of simple yes-no questions. MAIN RESULTS: The N1, N2 and P3 event-related potentials elicited by words varied more between subjects than those elicited by beeps. However, the difference between responses to attended and unattended stimuli was more consistent with words than beeps. Healthy subjects' performance with word stimuli (mean 77% ± 3.3 s.e.) was slightly but not significantly better than their performance with beep stimuli (mean 73% ± 2.8 s.e.). The two subjects with ALS used the word-based BCI to answer questions with a level of accuracy similar to that of the healthy subjects. SIGNIFICANCE: Since performance using word stimuli was at least as good as performance using beeps, we recommend that auditory streaming BCI systems be built with word stimuli to make the system more pleasant and intuitive. Our preliminary data show that word-based streaming BCI is a promising tool for communication by people who are locked in. VL - 11 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24838278 IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Patients with ALS can use sensorimotor rhythms to operate a brain-computer interface. JF - Neurology Y1 - 2005 A1 - Kübler, A. A1 - Nijboer, F A1 - Mellinger, Jürgen A1 - Theresa M Vaughan A1 - Pawelzik, H A1 - Gerwin Schalk A1 - Dennis J. McFarland A1 - Niels Birbaumer A1 - Jonathan Wolpaw KW - Aged KW - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis KW - Electroencephalography KW - Evoked Potentials, Motor KW - Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Imagination KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Motor Cortex KW - Movement KW - Paralysis KW - Photic Stimulation KW - Prostheses and Implants KW - Somatosensory Cortex KW - Treatment Outcome KW - User-Computer Interface AB -

People with severe motor disabilities can maintain an acceptable quality of life if they can communicate. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which do not depend on muscle control, can provide communication. Four people severely disabled by ALS learned to operate a BCI with EEG rhythms recorded over sensorimotor cortex. These results suggest that a sensorimotor rhythm-based BCI could help maintain quality of life for people with ALS.

VL - 64 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15911809 IS - 10 ER -